Ford delays buyout plan

DETROIT  Another round of buyouts for U.S. hourly employees at Ford Motor Co. will come later than initially anticipated.

After UAW workers ratified a contract with Ford in mid-November, company executives said they expected to make buyout offers by the end of 2007, with departures in the first quarter of 2008. But last week, Ford manufacturing chief Joe Hinrichs said the offers wont be out by the end of the year.

It will certainly be in the first half of next year, said Hinrichs, who was promoted last week to group vice president of global manufacturing.

He wouldnt share the number of departures Ford is targeting. Said Hinrichs: Well take everybody who wants to sign up.